An acu gunship from the 4th special operations squadron, flies near hurlburt field, fla. The ac is flown by usaf special operations, mostly in the close air support role. Acu spooky gunship rolls into retirement the last armed acu spooky gunship, tail number 5, retired to the 309th aerospace maintenance and regeneration group at davismonthan air force base, ariz. The acu spooky and acw stinger ii variants are used to support ground troops, escort convoys, and in towns and. The basic airframe is a c hercules which is then converted into a gunship and for aircraft support. The spooky umodel is the third generation of c gunships.
Your custom 4 sos ac u spooky ii model will be a perfect replication with squadron markings and any tail number. Capable of flying faster than helicopters and at high altitudes with excellent loiter time, the use of the pylon turn allowed the ac47 to deliver continuous, accurate fire to a single point on the ground. Feb 12, 2015 the lockheed ac gunship is a heavily armed groundattack aircraft variant of the c hercules transport plane. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Any variant of the lockheed ac from any service or country. Find ac gunship from a vast selection of model kits. Us air force lockheed ac gunship spectre spooky hercules. While still on alert to respond to contingencies as needed for the next few months, the spooky is being replaced downrange by the acj ghostrider, the most lethal and innovative gunship in the world. The acj is the fourth generation gunship replacing the aging fleet of acuw gunships. Close air support missions include troops in contact, convoy escort and point air defense. The ac gunships primary missions are close air support, air interdiction and force protection.
The gunship contains a 40mm l60 bofors cannon firing at 120 rpm, a 10mm m102 howitzer firing at 610 rpm, and a downwardfacing 25mm gau12 u gatling gun, firing at 1800 rpm. Find great deals on ebay for ac gunship and ac gunship model. Lockheed c hercules military aircraft military machine. Between spooky and spectre there were shadow and stinger. The gunships sole user is the united states air force, which uses ac h spectre and ac u spooky variants. The usaf finally gives its acw gunship the big gun it.
If you have any interest in learning about these gunship platforms then this book is a must have for your collection. Inspired designs on tshirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and more by independent artists and designers from around the world. The story of spooky, shadow, stinger and spectre mutza, wayne on. During the vietnam war the c hercules airframe was selected to replace the original gunship, the douglas ac47 spooky project. The basic airframe is manufactured by lockheed, while boeing is responsible for. Spectre stands for lockheed ac aeh hercules gunship. Within seconds, effective fire began raining down on the enemy positions, which were precariously close. The sole operator is the united states air force, which uses the acu spooky and acw stinger ii 4 variants for close air support, air interdiction, and force protection, with the acj ghostrider in development. During the vietnam war, the c hercules was selected to replace the douglas ac47 spooky gunship project gunship i to improve mission endurance and increase capacity to carry munitions. Amer 1200 scale ac gunship groundattack aircraft fighter diecast metal games workshop warhammer space marines. Acu spooky aircrew from 4th special operations squadron, hurlburt field, florida, conduct a livefire and air refueling mission during exercise emerald warrior 2016. In addition, afsoc will retain their remaining acu spectres, while retiring older gunships based on earlier hercules models. Acu spooky gunship aircraft, special operation squad.
Lockheed ac artillery wikia fandom powered by wikia. Plans announced in april 2010 are for afsoc to acquire 15 of the new acjs, based on new production airframes from lockheed martin. The heavily armed ac u spooky aircraft incorporates sidefiring weapons integrated with sophisticated sensor, navigation and fire control systems to provide surgical firepower or area. Cas from an orbiting acu gunship callsign spooky 41. Marines to turn super hercules, osprey fleets into missile slinging. The ach spectre gunships primary missions are close air. Entries are listed below in alphanumeric order 1toz. The squadron plans, prepares, and executes ac spooky gunship. There were many things that made the hercules stand out from its competition, but the chief point of distinction were the engines powering this airborne beast.
The lockheed ac gunship is a heavily armed, longendurance, ground attack variant of the c hercules transport, fixedwing aircraft. This aircraft was the last acu with its guns still installed and one of the very last to retire altogether. Spooky is the nickname for the ac gunship, the fiercest and, yes, spookiest weapon in the american arsenal. Published on may 17, 2016 usaf planes acu spooky, acw stinger in action during exercise emerald warrior in florida. The ac is the gunship variant of the immortal c hercules which will be mentioned in a later section. Acu spooky gunship model 4 sos customize and personalize this 4th special operations squadron acu spooky gunship model with your choice of pilot and crew chief names, weapons load out and patch and text on stand. Photo of a usaf ac u spooky aircraft in flight more special operations photos at this site uses cookies. Compilation with the ac ac h spectre, ac u spooky ii, ac w stinger ii during conducting live fire missions during exercise emerald warrior. All gunships evolutionized from the first operational gunship, the ac 47. The port side of the ac houses firing ports for an array of cannons, howitzers and gatling guns. The ac gunship is a heavilyarmed ground attack airplane and is a variant of the c hercules transport plane. The acj ghostrider will get a big ass gun afterall. The lockheed ac spectre is a heavilyarmed groundattack aircraft based on the hercules c created to replace the ac47 spooky. Compilation with the ac ach spectre, acu spooky ii, acw stinger ii during conducting live fire missions during exercise emerald warrior 20.
The ac u spooky gunships primary missions are close air support, air interdiction and armed reconnaissance. It contains 3 weapons the models are based on the zu23 aa gun. Its big, its loud, and it can perforate a football field. United states air force achu gunship download fact sheet tools printable fact sheet mission the ac gunships primary missions are. Air force photo by airman 1st class blake wiles the air forces famous acu spooky gunship is. Currently, acu spooky model gunships are stationed at hurlburt field in northwest.
Its the spooky, a close air support variant of the lockheed ac hercules aircraft. Gunships spend a lot of time supporting special forces on the ground, and are. The ac spooky gunship the acs is a heavily armed groundattack variant of the c hercules transport plane. The lockheed ac gunship is a heavily armed, longendurance groundattack variant of the c hercules transport fixedwing aircraft. Gunships also played a pivotal role in supporting the nato mission in bosniaherzegovina. Flag images indicative of country of origin and not necessarily the primary operator. Aug 22, 2017 heres how an ac u gunship aircrew saved 50 friendly soldiers by firing several bursts within 10 meters of them. Acu decal firing mini jet acu spooky ii yeti cup etsy. During the vietnam war the c hercules airframe was selected to replace the original gunship, the douglas ac47 spooky project gunship i. Captain terry returned to vietnam in september 1967, this time to test the gunship variant of the c transport. Spooky gunship operations in the vietnam war historynet. The ac gunship in action 08 nov 2012 posted by vlogger the lockheed ac gunship is a heavilyarmed groundattack aircraft variant of the c hercules transport plane. None of our partner shops or mates has this currently for sale.
A lockheed c hercules air dropping a m551 sheridan tank using lapes low altitude parachute extraction system. Oct 27, 20 the ac u spooky gunships, located at hurlburt field, fla. Other missions include perimeter and point defense, escort, landing, drop and extraction zone support, forward air control, limited command and control, and combat search and rescue. Its primary missions are close air support and armed reconnaissance. The story of spooky, shadow, stinger, and spectre tells the dramatic story of transforming military cargo transports into deadly groundattack aircraft used by the u. The current ac u is armed with a gau12 equalizer 25 mm cannon, one bofors 40 mm cannon and one m102 105 mm howitzer. How the ac destroyed at least 20 vehicles per night. Built on the airframe of a c hercules, the ac gunship variation, also called spectre and ghostrider, was developed for the united states air force during the vietnam war for close ground support and attack operations, especially in urban areas.
Acu spooky gunship offers a number of combat capabilities found in its predecessor, including the legendary 105 mm artillery gun that helped make the spooky gunship a. Spectre had its beginning when operational testing of a c as a gunship was conducted at eglin afb fl from june through september of 1967. The ach spectre and acu spooky ii are hercules transports that have been converted into sidefiring gunships, primarily for night attacks against ground targets. Thats why the aging ac gunship is still revered by ground troops for its ability. The ac u spooky and ac w stinger ii variants are used to support ground troops, escort convoys, and in towns and cities. The lockheed ac gunship is a heavily armed ground attack aircraft currently in service with the united states air force. Developed during the vietnam war as project gunship ii, the ac replaced the douglas ac47 spooky, or gunship i. I had decided a couple of years ago that i wanted to build displays of the two aircraft i spent 24 years of my life on, the first 17 years being on the b52h at castle afb, ca and the last seven with the umodel gunship program at hurlburt field, fl. Ac u spooky firing mini jet yeti cup water bottle tumbler cell phone vinyl decal sticker these 3 inch decals are the perfect fit for all small to medium sized bottles tumblers cups. It also has twice the munitions capacity of the ac h. The basic airframe is manufactured by lockheed, boeing is responsible for the conversion into a gunship and for aircraft support.
C hercules was selected to replace the douglas ac47 spooky gunship project. With three side firing weapons, a 25mm gatling gun. Acu usaf special operations gunship amtertl 172 8326. The acu spooky and acw stinger ii variants are used to support ground troops, escort convoys, and in towns and cities.
It carries a wide array of antiground oriented weapons that are integrated with sophisticated sensors, navigation, and firecontrol systems. The ac is operated by a crew of 11 men, depending on the variant. Unlike other military fixedwing aircraft, the ac relies on visual targeting. Two pilots are awarded dfcs after flying spooky hercules. The last armed acu spooky gunship, tail number 5, retired to the 309th aerospace maintenance and regeneration group at davismonthan air force base, ariz. Spectre is defined as lockheed ac aeh hercules gunship very rarely. All gunships evolved from the first operational gunship, the ac 47 the ac gunship has a combat history dating to vietnam. Some great stories on the lockheed c hercules and history of the gunship. From the simple dropping of flechettes on entrenched enemy positions in world war one, to the direct contact assaults prevalent in world war two, this is no more truer than with the converted c series of gunships known respectively per models as the ach spectre and acu spooky. The original ac spectre, super spooky, was stationed at ubon air force base the following year and conducted interdiction raids along the ho chi minh trail. The lockheed ac is a c cargo plane converted into a gunship. Illustration for article titled the air forces acu spooky is more like terrifying. The ac is the worlds biggest flying artillery gunship nicknamed hell in the sky. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and.
The ac a gunship ii superseded the ac 47 gunship i in vietnam. The hercules cargo airframe was converted into aca project gunship ii because it could fly faster, longer, higher and. The air commando association stories on the lockheed c. When you see spooky, or as we called it in vietnam, puff the magic dragon, in action, especially at night, it really sends a chill down your spine. Lockheed acu spooky ii shows off its power military. The acus capability to track and engage two targets simultaneously with different levels of ordnance is an invaluable asset to special operations forces on the ground. Ac gunships in action acj ghostrider in action acu spooky in action the lockheed ac gunship is a heavily armed, longendurance groundattack variant of the c hercules. Socoms gunship has been performing magnificently in.
Deadly ac gunship in action firing all its cannons youtube. That gun going off would make you crap your britches. Contentsshow history the ac gunships primary missions are close air support, air interdiction and armed reconnaissance. Acu spooky ii gunship in the video below, the loadmaster and aerial gunners load various ammunition onto the acu spooky ii. Background the spooky is the third generation of c gunships. Usaf currently, there are two versions of the ac in use the ach spectre, and the acu spooky. How the ac destroyed at least 20 vehicles per night during vietnam war. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. The ach spectre and the acu spooky primary missions are close air support. The gunship contains a 40mm l60 bofors cannon firing at 120 rpm, a 10mm m102 howitzer firing at 610 rpm, and a downwardfacing 25mm gau12u gatling gun, firing at 1800 rpm. Ac gunships have an extensive combat history dating to back to vietnam where gunships destroyed more than 10,000 trucks and were credited with many lifesaving, close air support missions. See more ideas about military aircraft, ac and fighter jets. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options.
Compilation with the ac ach spectre, acu spooky ii, acw. It is a variation of the c hercules transport plane. This quarter there have been some great stories of the c and a history of the gunship on the internet. C was originally designed as a troop, medevac, and cargo transport aircraft. Spectre lockheed acaeh hercules gunship acronymfinder. Us air force usaf aircrew members onboard a usaf acu hercules spooky gunship, 4th special operations squadron sos, hurlburt field fld, florida fl, load the 40mm bofors gun rear and 105mm howitzer in the cargo compartment during a training mission. Effective range of the gun is about 3,000 meters 9,800 feet. Many were called, but few were chosen, and the contract for this new aircraft went to lockheed and their c hercules. Originally, cas were converted into sidefiring gunships during project gunship ii and the followon programs, projects plain jane, surprise package and pave pronto. The acu has a crew of thirteen, including four gunners.
Ac gunship in action firing all its cannons exercise. The lockheed ac gunship is a heavily armed, longendurance, groundattack variant of the c hercules transport, fixedwing aircraft. Lockheed ac spectre and ac u spooky ii 18 january 2010 15. Ac spectre spooky gunship being mothballed carolina. It carries a wide array of ground attack weapons that are integrated with sophisticated sensors, navigation, and firecontrol systems. Military attack aircraft ac gunship united states air force fighter jet pictures wall art canvas frame art home decor 5 panel poster living room decorations paintings60wx32h 4. This custom model is made from scratch just for you in only 910 weeks, with rush production available to meet tight deadlines. The gunships sole user is the united states air force, which uses ac h spectre, ac u spooky, ac j ghostrider, and ac w stinger ii2 variants for close air support, air interdiction and force. The acu spooky gunships primary missions are close air support, air interdiction and armed reconnaissance. May 10, 2016 take a ride inside the ac spooky gunship. Published on oct 27, 20 the acu spooky gunships, located at hurlburt field, fla.
The final acu spooky gunship returned here from the airframes last scheduled combat deployment july 8, 2019. In addition to the 105mm howitzer, these wmodel gunships have a 30mm. Military videos angel of death ac gunship in action. This shirt from the warbirdshirts collection features the lockheed ac spooky. The air forces acu spooky is more like terrifying gizmodo.
Upgrade your style with gunship tshirts from zazzle. This aircraft has a sophisticated fire control system. By continuing to use this site you consent to our use of cookies. The usaf finally gives its acw gunship the big gun it desperately needs the service did not originally plan to put the hardhitting 105mm howitzer on newer gunships. Filtered with bayes 8 9 regardless of their project names, the aircraft were more commonly referred to by the squadrons call sign. There are a total of 12 lockheed c hercules variants entries in the military factory.
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